Spark-plug intensifier



J.'M. PAUL.

SPARK PLUGINTENSIFIER. [APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1920.

1,392,023.v Y 'PatentedSept.27, 1921.

INVENTOR Jamesfllfawz ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.TAMES M. PAUII, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF r JOHN J.

. KELLER, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SPARK-'IPLUG INTENSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. PAUL a citizen of the United States, residing at 105 Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spark-Plug Intensifiers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spark intensifiers,

and is particularly adapted to be secured to the outwardly extending end of any well known type of spark plug used in connection with internal combustion engines for firing the gaseous mixture, in order that the firing spark may be intensified.

The object of my invention is to provlde a spark intensifier which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the outwardly extending end of the centrally disposed electrode of a spark plug, and secured at any desired radial angle between the body of the spark plug, and a circular threaded nut mounted on the electrode, and to provide adjustable means for forming an intens1fying spark gap between the lead mm and said nut, so arranged that should said nut become loosened, the gap will not be varied thereby.

Other objects will appear in the following description, will be pointed out in the claims and will be embodied in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the outwardly extending end of a spark plug, showing my device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of my device taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, the spark plug to which it is secured being in elevation.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, 5 designates a rectangular block formed of any suitable insulating material, which is provided at one of its ends with an aperture 6, adapted to fit snugly around the upper end of the centrally disposed electrode 7, of a spark plug 8. The end of spark plug electrode 7 is threaded to receive a nut 9 which maintains the insulator of plug 8 in rigid engagement with the shell. The aperture 6 in the base engages the upper end of the electrode, the base being held in position and against movemen by means of a i c l r tion it is obvious that the block 5 may be swung around on the electrode 7 to any desired position and held firmly in such adjustment.

The block or base 5 is provided on its opposite end with a contact element 13, the lower end of said element engaging the upper face of the base 5, and each having registering screw threaded apertures which are engaged by a knurled binding screw 12 that serves to secure the contact element 13 and the lead wire in position on the base. In order that element 13 may be prevented from twisting on base 5 it is provided with a downwardly extending flange or lip 14: adapted to engage with the transverse end of said base. The upper end 15 of contact element 13 is provided with a threaded bore 16, in which is mounted an adjusting screw 17, the end of said screw projecting toward the periphery of the circular nut 10. By this construction it will be seen that the screw 17 may be adjusted toward and from nut 10 to form a spark gap 18 of any de sired length, and in order that screw 17 may be held in such adjusted relation, I provide the jam nut 19, adapted to rest against the surface of the upstanding member 15.

The end 20 of the lead wire 21, which leads to a source of electrical energy (not shown) is secured between the shoulder 22 of binding screw 12, and a washer 23, thereby forming an electrical connection with adjusting screw 17. The electric circuit is completed in the usual manner, through the engine cylinder, a portion of which is shown at 24 in dotted lines.

The electrical current passes from the source of energy through the lead 21 to binding screw 12, to member 13, thence through screw 17, jumps the gap 18 to nut 10, and passes through electrode 7 to form the intensified ignition spark, the circuit being completed in the usual manner as previously described.

By constructing my device in the manner described, it is obvious that I have not only provided a simple and durable adjustable means of intensifying the ignition spark, but have provided a construction whereby the spark gap 18 cannot be accidentally varied even though the securing nut 10 should become loosened from any cause.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described, comprising a base of insulating material having an opening formed therein, adapted to engage the upper threaded end of a spark plug electrode, a circular nut in screw threaded engagement with the threaded end of the spark plug electrode for immovably securing the base thereto; a contact element adap ed to have a conductor connected thereto, a screw mounted thereon, said screw being adjustable to or from the periphery of said circular nut forminga spark gap there.- between, means to lock said screw in an adjusted position, whereby on an accidental loosening of the circular nut no variation of the spark gap will occur.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of December, 1919.

JAMES M. PAUL. 

